Women defending human rights in Colombia

Colombia continues to be one of the most dangerous places in the world to speak out in defence of human rights and the rule of law. But for women human rights defenders there are particular and increased risks and dangers. Christian Aid partners are calling for greater and more gender appropriate protection for these women.

‘...[ tell your mother that] if she sees that another of her children has been beaten up she’ll know why; she should stop being a snitch, human rights defenders are guerrillas’

The above quote is a threat given to the daughter of a woman human rights defender as she was beaten up by two men in Bogota in November 2010.

Women defenders come from all walks of life; they are indigenous and Afro-Colombian women living in remote areas, trade unionists, internally displaced persons (IDPs), human rights lawyers defending victims of the conflict, lesbians and transgender women fighting against discrimination, journalists, mothers, daughters and sisters of the victims of extrajudicial executions and forced disappearances, and survivors of sexual violence.